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Cavers Rescued After 42-Hour Ordeal in Flooded Cave
6 Oct
Summary
- 3 cavers trapped underground for 42 hours due to Storm Amy flooding
- Rescue mission lasted 30 hours with over 100 volunteers
- Cavers located at 2:30 AM on Friday but rescue efforts hampered by weather
On October 6th, 2025, a group of 3 cavers found themselves trapped underground for 42 hours due to flooding caused by Storm Amy. The alarm was raised on Thursday evening when the cavers failed to return, prompting a massive rescue operation.
Over 100 volunteers from various rescue teams, including the Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association, Calder Valley Search & Rescue Team, and the Royal Air Force Mountain Rescue Service, worked tirelessly to locate and extract the trapped cavers. The rescue mission lasted a grueling 30 hours, with the cavers finally being located at 2:30 AM on Friday.
However, the rescue efforts were frustrated by the worsening weather, flooding, and rough terrain. Crews on the surface had to deal with "appalling" conditions to maintain communication with the teams underground, who worked in relays to guide the cavers back to safety.
The final caver was brought back to the surface at 2:30 AM on Saturday. While the cavers were exhausted, they fortunately did not sustain any injuries. Rescue team leader Derek Hammond expressed regret that the cavers could not be rescued an hour or two earlier, as they would have been "home in time for breakfast."
Meanwhile, Storm Amy continued to wreak havoc across the UK, leaving thousands of homes without power and causing widespread disruption to transportation networks.
